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US 7,007,960 B2Granted
Suspension system having reduced stress axle connection
AssigneeWatson & Chalin Manufacturing, Inc.
InventorsThomas N. Chalin, Donald R. Watson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle suspension system includes features which reduce stress in an axle connection. In a described embodiment, a vehicle suspension system includes a sleeve which is clamped on an axle. The sleeve is retained in its clamped position and is welded to opposing side walls of an arm. A bottom plate of the arm may also be welded to the sleeve.
Claims69
A vehicle suspension system, comprising:
- an axle;
- a sleeve clamped on the axle in a clamped position without press-fitting, the sleeve being welded in the clamped position;
- and
- an arm attached to the axle by welding directly to the sleeve, the sleeve being welded to the arm at openings formed through opposing side walls of the arm, and the openings in the side walls extending less than 360 degrees about the sleeve.
1 more element
A vehicle suspension system, comprising:
- an axle;
- a sleeve clamped on the axle in a clamped position without press-fitting, the sleeve being welded in the clamped position;
- and
- an arm attached to the axle by welding directly to the sleeve, the arm including a generally U-shaped portion having opposing side walls, and a plate extending between the side walls and welded to each of the side walls, the plate further being welded to the sleeve.
1 more element
A vehicle suspension system, comprising:
- an axle;
- a sleeve clamped on the axle in a clamped position without press-fitting, the sleeve being welded in the clamped position;
- and
- an arm attached to the axle by welding directly to the sleeve, the sleeve being welded in its clamped position by a weld extending between structural members of a generally radially outwardly extending clamp portion of the sleeve.
1 more element
A vehicle suspension system, comprising:
- an axle;
- a sleeve clamped on the axle in a clamped position without press-fitting, the sleeve being welded in the clamped position;
- and
- an arm attached to the axle by welding directly to the sleeve, the sleeve being welded to the axle in at least one opening formed laterally through the sleeve.
1 more element
A vehicle suspension system, comprising:
- an axle;
- a sleeve clamped on the axle in a clamped position without press-fitting, the sleeve being welded in the clamped position;
- and
- an arm attached to the axle by welding directly to the sleeve, the sleeve being welded to the arm at openings formed through opposing side walls of the arm, and the side walls being welded to the sleeve less than 360 degrees about the sleeve.
1 more element
A vehicle suspension system, comprising:
- an axle;
- a sleeve clamped to the axle without press-fitting;
- and
- an arm having opposing side walls, each of the side walls having an opening formed therethrough, the sleeve being received in each of the openings, and the sleeve being welded to the arm less than 360 degrees about a periphery of each of the openings.
1 more element
A method of fabricating a vehicle suspension system, the method comprising the steps of:
- clamping a sleeve to an axle without press-fitting;
- welding the sleeve, thereby retaining the sleeve in its clamped position;
- and
- welding the sleeve to each of opposing side walls of an arm, the sleeve being welded less than 360 degrees about an opening formed through each of the side walls.
1 more element
A method of fabricating a vehicle suspension system, the method comprising the steps of:
- clamping a sleeve to an axle without press-fitting, thereby removing clearance between the sleeve and axle, and applying a compressive stress between the sleeve and axle;
- welding the sleeve to the axle;
- welding opposing side walls of an arm to the sleeve;
- and
- welding a plate to the sleeve, the plate extending between the side walls.
2 more elements
A method of fabricating a vehicle suspension system, the method comprising the steps of:
- clamping a sleeve to an axle without press-fitting, thereby removing clearance between the sleeve and axle, and applying a compressive stress between the sleeve and axle;
- retaining the compressive stress between the sleeve and axle by welding together members of the sleeve, the sleeve members being included in a clamp portion of the sleeve;
- welding the sleeve to the axle;
- and
- welding opposing side walls of an arm to the sleeve,
- wherein the clamping step further comprises tightening a fastener in the members of the clamp portion.
3 more elements
A method of fabricating a vehicle suspension system, the method comprising the steps of:
- clamping a sleeve to an axle without press-fitting, thereby removing clearance between the sleeve and axle, and applying a compressive stress between the sleeve and axle;
- retaining the compressive stress between the sleeve and axle by welding together members of the sleeve, the sleeve members being included in a clamp portion of the sleeve;
- welding the sleeve to the axle;
- and
- welding opposing side walls of an arm to the sleeve, the clamp portion extending in a void formed between a respective opening and a peripheral edge of each side wall.
2 more elements
A vehicle suspension system, comprising:
- an axle;
- a sleeve clamped in a clamped position on the axle by a clamp portion of the sleeve, the sleeve being welded in the clamped position prior to the sleeve being welded to the axle;
- and
- an arm attached to the axle by welding to the sleeve, the sleeve being welded to the arm at openings formed through opposing side walls of the arm, and the side walls being welded to the sleeve less than 360 degrees about the sleeve.
1 more element
A vehicle suspension system, comprising:
- an axle;
- a sleeve clamped in a clamped position on the axle by a clamp portion of the sleeve, the sleeve being welded in the clamped position prior to the sleeve being welded to the axle;
- and
- an arm attached to the axle by welding to the sleeve, the arm including a generally U-shaped portion having opposing side walls, and a plate extending between the side walls and welded to each of the side walls, the plate further being welded to the sleeve.
1 more element
A vehicle suspension system, comprising:
- an axle;
- a sleeve clamped in a clamped position on the axle by a clamp portion of the sleeve, the sleeve being welded in the clamped position prior to the sleeve being welded to the axle, and the sleeve being welded to the axle in at least one opening formed laterally through the sleeve;
- and
- an arm attached to the axle by welding to the sleeve.
1 more element
A vehicle suspension system, comprising:
- an axle;
- a sleeve clamped in a clamped position on the axle by a clamp portion of the sleeve, the sleeve being welded in the clamped position prior to the sleeve being welded to the axle;
- and
- an arm attached to the axle by welding to the sleeve, the sleeve being welded to the arm at openings formed through opposing side walls of the arm, and the openings in the side walls extending less than 360 degrees about the sleeve.
1 more element
A method of fabricating a vehicle suspension system, the method comprising the steps of:
- clamping a sleeve to an axle, thereby removing clearance between the sleeve and axle, and applying a compressive stress between the sleeve and axle;
- then welding the sleeve to the axle;
- and
- then welding opposing side walls of an arm to the sleeve.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.